Title

The Effect of Salt Water in the Growth of Winter Rye Plants

Problem Scenario

I want to water my plant, but, I dont know if I should use salt water or not.

Broad Question

What is the effect of salt on a plant?

Specific Question

How does different amounts of salt in the water effect the growth of Winter Rye?

Hypothesis

The more salt in the water, the less the plant will grow.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

Salt

Dependent Variable:

Winter Rye

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Dirt amount, Plant type, Sun amount, Environment, Amount of seeds in each cup, Cup size, Watering times.

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Winter Rye - A type of grass seed that is tough and durable.
Independent Variable - The thing that you change purposefully.
Dependent Variable - The thing that is affected by the Independent Variable.
Salt Water Concentration - The percentage of salt in the water.
Corresponding - Matching things that go together.

General Plan

I watered plants with different concentrations of salt water.

Potential Problems And Solutions

The seeds might be duds. Incorrectly mix the water concentrations. Forget to water one night. A plant is destroyed. Cup might tip over.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Someone might have an allergic reaction, but other than that, I dont think that there are any safety concerns with this project.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Resources and Budget Table

Plastic cups - $0.48
Dirt - $4.00
Sharpie - $1.79
Winter Rye - Given to me for free
Salt - Given to me for free
Water - free

Data Table

Time Line

Background Research

Salt or salt water added to plants changes the natural balance of minerals in the soil. The loss of these important minerals make the process of the plant switch. Instead of geting the water from the ground, the plant acually releases the water, trying to get rid of the minerals that have been detroyed. Due to the lack of water, the plant will start wilting and the leaves will start yellowing. Some plants, such as halophytes, are not effected by the salt. These plant are usally found by the beach or other sandy areas. This is interesting because salt is an important ingredient in garden soils. The salt is present in small amounts in the topsoil and plant growth is not often affected. Plants differ widely in their tolerance of salt content in the soil. The growth of some plants may be reduced alot when they grow in soil with high salt amounts. Some more salt tolerant plants, such as beets or spinach, may only be slightly affected. Many other expiriments done on this subject show that the salt kills plants and is not helpful, but they used different plants than Winter Rye. This shows that it depends on the plant.

References

http://www.bottlebiology.org/investigations/terraqua_explore.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_salt_affect_plant_growth
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4246

Detailed Procedure

1. Fill 16 cups with 2 tablespoons of dirt.
2. Put 10 Winter Rye seeds in the dirt and bury.
3. Lable each cup, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0%.
4. Mix the said concentrations of salt in water.
5. Water each plant with the corresponding jug of water once every night for a month.

Diagram

Photo List

Results

All Raw Data

Graphs

Photos

Data Analysis

The plant height data showed that the 0.01% grew the tallest. Second was the 0.1% and third was the 0%, making the 1% the shortest. For the wet mass the 0.1% was the most in weight, 0.01% was second, 0% was third, and the 1% was the least in weight. For the dry mass the 0.1% was the most in weight, the 0.01% was second again, the 1% was third this time, and 0% was last.

Conclusion

When I collected the data and for the height, I found that the 0.01% was the tallest in average and the 1% was the shortest in average. I then collected the wet mass averages and found that the 0.1% was the most in weight and the 1% was the least in weight. After that I collected the dry mass averages and found the most in weight was 0.1% and the 0% was the least in weight. If you want your plant to be taller, the 0.01% would be the best choice, but if you wanted your plant to be heavier, the 0.1% would be the best.

Discussion

In my experiment the 0.1% salt and the 0.01% were the ones who grew the best. That went against my hypotheses, I thought that the 0% would grow the best, the 0.01% would be second, the 0.1% would be third and the 1% would be last. My data might have been different if I had used a different plant. The one I use was to tolerant to salt. Also, the salt water ratio might have been measured wrong. Other expirements I could do that have to do with mine would be, how does the environment effect a plants growth, how does the soil effect the plants growth, or if there is salt in the plants water, how does it effect the animal that eats that plant.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

If the community used 0.1% salt water concentration to water their lawns, they would have fuller, denser, softer lawn that looked better. They would feel better about the appearance of their homes and their friends will want better looking lawns, so they will buy more salt and the tools to figure out if they have the right concentration, there for, starting a chain reaction of economy and better looking lawns.

Abstract

For this project, I took 16 cups and filled them with dirt and ten seeds each. I watered them with different salt concentrations, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0%. I watered them each night for a month. I then collected the data and for the height, I found that the 0.01% was the tallest in average and the 1% was the shortest in average. I then collected the wet mass averages and found that the 0.1% was the most in weight and the 1% was the least in weight. After that I collected the dry mass averages and found the most in weight was 0.1% and the 0% was the least in weight. If you want your plant to be taller, the 0.01% would be the best choice, but if you wanted your plant to be heavier, the 0.1% would be the best.